Patricia Sands

Author

Author Promotion

A new book for you ~ Lost At Sea!

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Come sail away with me and my friends! As I’ve mentioned before, I’ve had the pleasure of collaborating with seven author friends to bring you the Sail Away series ~ eight standalone short novels with each story taking characters to an inviting location in the world plus the first free book which is a collection of all the prologues.

The characters, their situations, and the plots in each story are different and the stories are unrelated apart from the fact they each involve a cruise. How much fun is that? Especially in the midst of a rather harsh winter! Hop aboard and sail away!

Beginning February 1st, a new book has published each week and today it’s my turn to offer you Lost At Sea. Click on the link for your copy.

I had such a great time writing this story as my characters cruised the Mediterranean … no surprise on location, right?

Here’s the blurb:

For every family that is Italian going back several generations, this will sound familiar: It’s a known fact that Italian women are passionate about everything, especially family, and they know that food is the essence of life.

Stephanie (Stevie) Valentini’s story begins with her Bisnonna (great-grandmother) Paola in a village in Italy after WW2. In 2021, she is searching for something. She’s just not sure what that something is.

The chef in her family’s trattoria, Stephanie’s life has imploded. Suddenly single, suffering from Covid burnout, and about to turn thirty, she impulsively agrees to help best friend Kim with her pop-up jewellery shop on a Mediterranean cruise. Feeling lost, she’s not convinced she even needs to be found. What she discovers on this voyage is magic that might change her forever.

This gourmet food cruise is on a small ship with ten stops of three days in exciting ports from Barcelona to Venice. Time with Kim can only help heal Stephanie’s wounded heart as they have laughed and cried their way through life together as only besties can. They will be crew on this cruise and not paying passengers. Kim understands Stephanie does not want anyone to know she is the TikTok star of Stevie Valentini’s Pasta Party. Nor does she want any romance.

With each passing port, adventures continue, surprises occur and the final outcome once Venice is reached could not have been anticipated, particularly by Stephanie.

Join bestselling author Patricia Sands as she whisks you away in the latest adventure in the Sail Away series. Lose yourself on the sparkling Mediterranean in a story of family, friendship and food.

I hope you will order all eight books and enjoy a different staycation with each one.

★ Don’t miss a Sail Away book! ★ Click this link to see them all.
Book 1: Welcome Aboard – prologue book
Book 2: The Sound of the Sea by Jessie Newton
Book 3: Uncharted Waters by Tammy L. Grace
Book 4: A Not So Distant Shore by Ev Bishop
Book 5: Caroline, Adrift by Kay Bratt
Book 6: Moonlight On the Lido Deck by Violet Howe
Book 7: The Winning Tickets by Judith Keim
Book 8: Lost At Sea by Patricia Sands
Book 9: The Last Port of Call by Elizabeth Bromke

Part of my book release celebration is a live chat on my facebook page. Ev Bishop and I are the two Canadian authors in the group and we look forward to having you join us at 7 ET on Wednesday, 15th. Here’s the link for that https://www.facebook.com/patricia.sands.9

Woohoo … and the celebrating continues … There will also be a giveaway beginning on the 15th featuring a paperback copy of the book plus an apron from Italy, a tote, soap and sachet from the Côte d’Azur all worth $40.00. Good luck!!!

Here’s the link for that.

Now it’s time to get back to writing the next book! Stay safe and warm, dear friends, and may spring be on your doorstep soon!

Sweet or savory … or both? And a happy Groundhog Day giveaway!

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Now that we’ve finished celebrating January in France by eating les galettes des rois, the kings’ cake, it’s time to sweep away those crumbs and haul out the crêpes pan!

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February 2nd, is La Chandeleur, Fête des Lumières,  Jour des Crêpes. You might know it as Candlemas.

Churches will celebrate the tradition of the lighting of candles.

Then it will be all about … what else, this IS France … food!

Crêpes and cidre. Unlike our apple cider, this drink has a touch of alcohol.

The day is often accompanied by fortune telling and in many kitchens, crêpes are flipped in the air with the pan in one hand and a coin in the other. If the crêpe lands back in the pan, the year will be a prosperous one. Children hold their breath in anticipation!

Similar to our North American Groundhog Day, there’s a prediction about winter at this time of year. “Rosée à la Chandeleur, hiver à sa dernière heure.” If  there is dew at dawn, winter will soon be over.

As the French do so well, the day is a fun-filled, family time. If you’re tempted to celebrate your own Jour des Crêpes, they are delicious and light  and easy to make. Click right here for a recipe.

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There are crêpe stands or crêperies everywhere in France and today, as well as through the weekend, there will be few people not enjoying this simple and delicious food with a filling of choice ~ sweet or savoury.  Crêpes have a history that goes back to Biblical times and in France, Britanny is said to have established the true crêpe recipe.

Get in line right here! Bon appétit!

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Have you ever made crêpes? Which do you prefer, the French crêpe or it’s slightly heavier English cousin, the pancake? Are you a fan of sweet or savoury?

Here’s what  The Good Life France has to say about French traditions on February 2nd.

And now for something completely different!

Today I’m also celebrating with my sister authors in our Sail Away series as the first of our EIGHT stories is newly released. There will be a new book each week for the next two months! Join Jesse Newton at 9 p.m. ET today for all sorts of good fun. Here’s the link.

And a bit about The Sound of the Sea:

THE SOUND OF THE SEA
Single and over sixty…
Just because she’s on a singles cruise doesn’t mean Jennifer is looking for a man. Even so, she can’t help but notice the sparks flying between her and Mitchell, her old college roommate’s brother.
Join Jennifer, Blanche and Mitchell on the Sweet Sea Dreams for a story that weaves second chances, sisterhood, and female relationships together.
Read THE SOUND OF THE SEA from your favorite retailer by using the links below.
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09VKKMC3B/
Apple: https://books.apple.com/…/the-sound-of-the…/id1617554837
Kobo: https://www.kobo.com/us/en/ebook/the-sound-of-the-sea-2
Nook: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/…/the…/1142941126…
Google Play: https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=05JnEAAAQBAJ

And even more to celebrate!

It wouldn’t be right to forget about our Groundhog Day today! What was your local groundhog’s prediction in your neighbourhood? Six weeks of …??? Today you can drop by the awesome Bookish Road Trip facebook page and enter the long list of excellent book giveaways in their third annual Groundhog Day celebration. Tell me in the comments there about your groundhog’s prediction and enter to win a signed paperback copy of THE SECRETS WE HIDE … along with many other opportunities!

Good luck! Bonne chance!

Whatever the prediction, make the most of it! Stay safe, everyone.

And happy February too!

Happy Thanksgiving in Canada

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I hope you won’t mind if I post a similar message to past years. It’s the message I want to share at this time every year … every day, really …

I just returned from another of my tours in the south of France a week ago and each year I am reminded of how fortunate I am to have that opportunity. Just one of many blessings for which I am grateful. Make a list of yours.

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Thanksgiving. No shopping for anything but dinner ingredients. No lists of gifts. Bags of food being filled for the Food Banks. Volunteers serving turkey dinners at homeless shelters. Quality time spent as families and friends gather to share memories, love and laughter. An attitude of gratitude prevails. I am so thankful for the life I have. I hope you feel the same about yours.

As we consider our individual blessings, let’s remember those who struggle with hunger, illness, poverty, war and a multitude of other challenges in our own backyards and around the globe. The refugee crisis is heartbreaking. Let’s try to make the sentiments of Thanksgiving a part of every single day.

What a good feeling to see the food donation bins overflowing today. If you can’t get out to help, here’s a way you can play a part without leaving home! Click right here.

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I’ve written about these sites before, but they are always worth mentioning from time to time.  All you have to do is go to TheHungerSite.com  once a day and click on the button — sponsors give free food. You are not put on any list or bombarded with spam. There are other links to click where sponsors donate for appropriate benefits: Breast Cancer ~ remember it is Breast Cancer Awareness Month; Child Health; Literacy; Rainforest; Animal Rescue and a few others. All of this has been verified as legit by Snopes years ago. I pop in every day. Why not?

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While we are at it, have you ever played FREERICE.COM? ~ This is a unique way to increase your vocabulary and donate rice to needy countries. Play it with your children as there are 60 levels. It’s a great place to learn new words for Words With Friends … ahem, my addiction when I need a few minutes off from writing. It’s such a fun way to keep connected with friends too.

One big personal thank you to the readers who take the time to contact me. I love hearing from you and appreciate every single message. Thanks for subscribing to my newsletter (just click on the link in the column to the right) and for sharing my books with your friends. You light up my life!

This month the ebook of my new novel, THE SECRETS WE HIDE, is in a special October sale for just $.99. If you already have your copy, now is a great opportunity to pick up a few for friends. It’s easy to do on Amazon. The ebook is also available on Kobo and Barnes & Noble.

Also, a reminder that this giveaway below is still going for a few more days. Enter as often as you like! Good luck!

It seems like the giveaway season has begun! Be sure to let me know when you win something so we can all celebrate!

The more followers an author has on BookBub, the more often BookBub shares our work to readers all around the world. The beauty of subscribing to BookBub for readers is that this gives you access to information about great book sales. Think of it as an enormous library!

Just click here to enter to win 40 bestselling novels AND an eReader! How cool is that? Good luck to everyone who enters.

Happy Thanksgiving to you and yours!

October already? Let’s celebrate with a giveaway! Why not?

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Hi everyone ~ I don’t want you to miss this great giveaway. It seems like the season is on! Be sure to let me know when you win something so we can all celebrate!

The more followers an author has on BookBub, the more often BookBub shares our work to readers all around the world. The beauty of subscribing to BookBub for readers is that this gives you access to information about great book sales. Think of it as an enormous library!

Just click here to enter to win 40 bestselling novels AND an eReader! How cool is that? Good luck to everyone who enters.

Today, October 1, is my final day in the south of France for 2022. I’m so grateful to have had the time here after travel being curtailed through the pandemic. For part of my time here in September, I’ve co-hosted our South of France Memories Tour with my partner in tour crime and good friend, Deborah Bine aka The Barefoot Blogger.

As usual, we’ve had an amazing time sharing our passion for the south of France with a group from Canada and the States. This year there were fifteen fabulous women who were a pleasure to be with every single day.

You can see the full itinerary of our tour here.

I’m going to post photos on the Travel page here on my website soon … after I get home tomorrow and recover from jet lag. But here are a few images to enjoy right now.

Wishing you a bon weekend wherever you are!

Have you ordered my newest release? Here’s the link on Amazon, Kobo and Barnes & Noble.